Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. fought to a majority draw in their lightweight title bout at the Barclays Center in New York. The result surprised many, as Davis entered the ring as a heavy favorite.
The fight turned controversial in the ninth round when Davis took a voluntary knee. The referee didn't start a count, which could have resulted in a 10-8 round for Roach. Davis later explained he had hair grease in his eyes.
One judge scored the fight 115-113 for Davis, while the other two had it even at 114-114. The New York State Athletic Commission will investigate the ninth-round incident. This investigation might lead to a change in the result or, more likely, an immediate rematch.
Multi-weight world champion Claressa Shields, known as the "GWOAT," defended Davis after the fight. She shared her thoughts on social media:
"Not y'all saying Tank is overrated…. We not gonna do that. I believe he had an off night vs a great fighter in Roach. And the arguing with corner and grease in his hair didn't help. Draw or not, Tank still a bad man. Be smooth though."
Shields pointed out that Davis had an off night and faced a great opponent in Roach. She also mentioned that arguing with his corner and the hair grease issue didn't help Davis's performance.
Roach impressed boxing fans by pushing Davis throughout all 12 rounds. The unexpected outcome has got the boxing world talking, with many of the sport's biggest names weighing in on the matter.
The fight's controversial ending and surprising result have certainly shaken up the lightweight division. Fans will eagerly await the commission's findings and any potential rematch announcement.
